The history of Spain is one of the most fascinating in the world and Spanish history and culture has helped to shape the modern world into what it is today. Although Spain is a relatively small territory located in southwestern Europe, the history of Spain is of grandeur and is strikingly different from that of the rest of the continent.

The timeline of Spanish history tells the story of a land that has been sought after by many civilizations: the Carthaginians and Romans fought over it, the Arabs conquered it and the Catholic monarchs would recover Spain and convert it into the most powerful empire in the world upon the discovery of America. The Spanish Empire reached its peak under King Felipe II, who unified the Spanish territory and lands: from the Philippines to the Americas as well as Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy and some of present day Germany.

From this moment forward, Spain’s history reached a period of economic and political decadence which was accompanied by both foreign and civil wars. The 19th century would mark an important part of Spanish history with the loss of important Spanish territories and the collapse of the Spanish Empire. The independence achieved by Spanish territories in the Americas, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines significantly shaped the world and modern Spanish history.

Browse through this Spanish history timeline of links to learn more about the history of Spain and the role that Spain has played in the “theatre” of world history. The more you understand Spain’s history and culture, the faster you will adapt to life in Spain.